Multiple position reclining chair



Sept. 18, 1962 A. LORENZ 3,054,640

MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Filed Nov. 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. "I.

INVENTOR. AN 70 4 OQE/VZ H TTOR HEX! hawk Sept. 18, 1962 A. LORENZ 3,

MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Filed NOV. 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Shegt 2 M INVENTOR. ,4 N TO/V L 02 EA/Z.

/him Sept. 18, 1962 A. LORENZ 3,054,640

MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Filed Nov. 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 M 62 w a t M FIG. 5.

INVENTOR. ANTO/V zaki/vz BY MM HTT R XS United States The present invention relates generally to reclining chairs of the rester type including a body-supporting unit having a unitary seat and back-rest and a leg-rest mounted for coordinated movement with said body-supporting unit, and in particular to an improved reclining chair of the multiple position type in which the body-supporting unit may be brought to at least an intermediate resting or tilted position with the leg-rest appropriately elevated for accommodating the chair occupant in a partially reclined or tilted back resting attitude and then to a fully reclined position with the leg-rest appropriately elevated for accommodating the chair occupant in a fully reclined or complete relaxation attitude.

Of recent times there has been developed a reclining chair including a body-supporting unit having a unitary seat and back-rest and a coordinated leg-rest which has come to be known as a multiple-position chair and characterized in that at least two discrete chair positions may be realized. The first is an intermediate semi-reclined or tilted back position wherein the body-supporting unit is tilted at an angle relative to the horizontal and the legrest is elevated such as to accommodate the chair occupant in an attitude appropriate for television viewing, reading, sewing and the like; and the second is fully reclined or completely tilted back position wherein the body-supporting unit is tilted at an angle relative to the horizontal and the leg-rest is elevated such that the chair occupant is accommodated in an attitude appropriate for complete relaxation.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved reclining chairs of the multiple position-type which is capable of attaining at least two positions wherein the leg-rest is appropriately oriented to accommodate the legs of the chair occupant in the requisite attitude in relation to the body-supporting unit of the chair. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a two-position type of reclining chair wherein the leg-rest is brought to an elevated and substantially horizontal leg-supporting position as the chair moves into an intermediate tilted position and remains in the requisite orientation relative to the body-supporting unit as the latter moves to the fully reclined or tilted back position.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features of the present invention, there is provided a reclining chair which comprises a support, a body-supporting unit, means movably mounting said body-supporting unit on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted position to a final tilted position, a leg-rest a leg-rest linkage operatively connected to said leg-rest, and means operatively connected to and mounting said leg-rest linkage including at least one pivot on said support. Means guidingly engaging the one pivot and mounting same for displacement relative to said support. Actuating means are operatively connected to said linkage and controlled from said body-supporting unit for moving said leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position during said first movement phase. Further, sequence means are provided which are operatively connected to said leg-rest linkage and eifective during said first movement phase to maintain said one pivot stationary relative to said support and effective during said second movement phase to permit displacement of said one pivot relative to said support such that said elevated ice leg-rest and body-supporting unit move relative to said support through said second movement phase.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of several illustrated embodiments constructed according to the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, of an improved reclining chair embodying features of the present invention, the chair being shown in its initial upright or sitting position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in the partially reclined or intermediate tilted position;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in the fully reclined or completely tilted position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view with parts broken away and sectioned, of a further embodiment of improved reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, the chair being shown in its initial upright or sitting position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the chair in the partially reclined or intermediate titled position; and,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the chair in the fully reclined or completely tilted position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 a first embodiment of a twoposition chair, demonstrating features of the present invention, and generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The chair 10 has two movement phases and is capable of movement from the upright or sitting position shown in FIG. 1 to a semi-reclined or intermediate tilted position with the leg-rest elevated, as shown in FIG. 2; and is further capable of movement from the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 into the fully reclined or completely tilted position with the leg-rest elevated, as shown in FIG. 3.

The chair includes a support 12 having opposite side walls 14, 16 interconnected by appropriate cross braces 18 and supported on depending legs 20. Pivotally or movably mounted on the support 12 is a body-supporting unit 22 which includes a unitary seat 24 and back-rest 26. The body-supporting unit 22 in the region of the junction of the seat 24 and the back-rest 26 is provided with a mounting bracket 28 which has a main pivot 30 to the side walls 14, 16 of the chair support or frame 12 which mounts the body-supporting unit 22 for rearward turning or rocking movement from the upright or sitting position shown in FIG. 1 to the successive tilted positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 24 is a leg-rest 32 which is movable from the vertically-extending stored position shown in FIG. 1 into first and second elevated leg-supporting positions, shown successively in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the first elevated leg-supporting position, shown in FIG. 2, the legt-rest 32 is disposed slightly below the horizontal, with its upper or inner end disposed substantially at the same level of the seat and its outer or lower end disposed slightly below the upper end. In the second elevated position shown in FIG. 3, the leg-rest 32 is in the requisite orientation relative to the seat and the support, it being appreciated that the body-supporting unit 22 tilts rearwardly and that the leg-rest is further elevated in the FIG. 3 position A leg-rest linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 34, is operatively connected to the leg-rest 32 and mounts the same movement from the stored position shown in FIG. 1 to the successive elevated leg-supporting positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The leg-rest linkage 34 in this illustrative embodiment includes first and second mounting links 36, 38 which extends horizontally in the sitting position of the chair, with the link 36 resting on the cross brace 18 serving as a stop in the sitting position and with the link 38 being spaced from and disposed above the link 36. At its forward end, the mounting link 36 has a pivot or pivotal mount 40 on a mounting plate 42 fixed to the adjacent side wall of the chair or the frame 12. Specifically, the pivotal mount 40 is guidingly engaged within an upwardly and rearwardly inclined slot 44 such that the pivotal mount may be displaced or translated upwardly and rearwardly relative to the support. During the first movement phase, the pivotal mount 40 for the mounting link 36 is journaled at the lower end of the slot 44, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 1 and 2; and during the second movement phase as shown in FIG. 3 the pivotal mount 40 is displaced upwardly and rearwardly relative to the support along the slot 44. At its forward end, the mounting link 38 has a pivotal mount 46 which is guidingly engaged within an upwardly and rearwardly inclined slot 48 formed in the mounting plate 42. The pivotal mount 46 for the mounting link 38 remains at the lower end of the slot 48 during the first movement phase, and is translated or displaced upwardly and rearwardly relative to the support during the second movement phase. The leg-rest mounting linkage 34 is completed by a first connecting link 50 which has a pivotal connection 52 at its rearward end to the rearward end of the mounting link 36, a second pivotal connection 54 at a point spaced forwardly of its rearward end to the rearward end of the mounting link 38 and a third pivotal connection 56 at its forward end to the leg-rest; and a second connecting link 58 which has a pivotal connection 60 at its rearward end to the mounting link 38 at a point spaced forwardly of the pivotal connection 54 and a pivotal connection 62 at its forward end to the leg-rest 32 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 56.

Actuating means are operatively connected to the leg rest mounting linkage 34 and to the body-supporting unit 22 for moving the leg-rest 32 to an elevated leg-supporting position during the first movement phase for the chair. Specifically, the actuating means takes the form of an actuating link 64 which has a pivotal connection 66 at its upper end to the seat 24 and a pivotal connection 68 at its lower end to a depending rigid extension 38a of the mounting link 38. Accordingly, in response to the rearward rocking or tilting movement of the body-supporting unit 22, an upwardly directed thrust is imparted via the actuating link 64 to the leg-rest mounting linkage 34 which tends to turn the mounting links 36, 38 in the counterclockwise direction about their respective pivotal mounts 49, 46 on the mounting plate 42 fixed to the support 12.

Sequencing means are operatively connected to the leg-rest mounting linkage 34 and are effective during the first movement phase to maintain the pivotal mounts 40, 46 at the lower ends of their respective slots 44, 48 such that the pivotal mounts 40, 46 provide effective stationary pivots about which the mounting links 36, 38 turn during the first movement phase. Further, the sequencing means is arranged suchthat during the second movement phase, the pivotal mounts 40, 46 for the leg-rest mounting linkage '34 are permitted to displace or translate upwardly and rearwardly relative to the support such that the "elevated leg-rest 32 may be further lifted with the body-supporting unit 22 which continues to tilt rearwardly about the main pivot 30. The sequencing means includes a pin and slot interconnection between the legrest mounting linkage 34 and the support having, in this illustrative form of the invention, first and second slot sections 70, 72 which extend from respective outer ends toward each other and merge at a junction 74 at their adjacent ends. A pin 76 is carried by the mounting link 36 and is disposed, in the sitting position of the chair, at the lower or outer end of the curved slot section 70. In response to the actuation of the leg-rest 32 and the turning of the leg-rest mounting linkage 34 in the counterclockwise direction about its pivotal mounts, the pin 76 translates along the curved slot section toward the junction 74. The curvature of the slot section 70 is selected on a radius from the lower end of the slot or guideway 44 such that the sequencing means efiectively maintains the pivotal mount 40 for the mounting link 36 at the lower end of the slot section 44 and the pivotal mount 46 for the mounting link 38 at the lower end of the slot 48. In the intermediate tilted position shown in FIG. 2, the pin 76 of the sequencing means arrives at the junction 74 of the slot sections 70, 72 and will enter the linear slot section 72 in response to further actuation of the leg-rest mounting linkage. The slot section 72 is illustrated as being in alignment with and as an extension of the slot section 44 such that during the second movement phase the sequencing means permits the pivotal mount 40 to translate upwardly along the slot or guideway 44; and simultaneously this permits the pivotal mount 46 to translate upwardly along the slot or guideway 48. The final reclined or tilted back position for the chair is established when the pin 76 of the sequencing means arrives at the upper or outer end of the linear or straight slot section 72 and simultaneously the pivotal mount 46 for the mounting link 38 arrives at the upper end of the slot or guideway 48, as seen in FIG. 3.

In order to facilitate a thorough understanding of the present invention, a typical sequence of operations will now be described:

When the chair occupant is seated in the body-supporting unit 22 and urges his weight rearwardly, the body-supporting unit 22 tilts or rocks about the maiin pivot 30 and the leg-rest mounting or control linkage 34 is actuated by the actuating link 64. During the first movement phase the pin 76 of the sequence means translates upwardly along the arcuate slot section 70 in a radius about the lower end of the slot 44 and thus positively maintains the pivotal mounts 40, 46 at the lower ends of their respective slots or guideways 44, 48. The counterclockwise turning of the mounting links 36, 38 about their respective relatively stationary pivotal mounts 40, 46- brings the leg-rest 32 to the elevated leg-supporting position as the chair moves to the intermediate tilted position shown in FIG. 2. At the end of the first movement phase, the positive constraint of the sequencing means on the'pivotal mounts 40, 46 is elfectively removed in that the pin 76 thereof is at the junction 74 of the slot sections 70, 72 such that continued actuation of the leg-rest mounting linkage 34 via the actuating link 64 will tend to lift or translate the respective pivotal mounts 40', 46 for the leg-rest mounting linkage 34 upwardly and rearwardly along their respective slots or guideways 44, 48. Thus, the elevated leg-rest 32 will be displaced upwardly and rearwardly in the requisite orientation to the body-supporting unit 22, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 2 and 3. During the second movement phase, the spacing between the main pivot 30 for the body-supporting unit 22 and the pivotal mounts 40, 46 for the leg-rest mounting linkage is shortened, and this eiiectively shortens the stationary link of a four-bar linkage which includes as the stationary link thereof the portion of the support intermediate the main pivot 30 and the pivotal mount 46 and as movable links thereof, the seat 24 intermediate the main pivot 30 and the pivotal connection 66, the actuating link 64, and the mounting link 38 intermediate the pivotal connection 68 and the pivotal mount 46. The effect of decreasing the length of this stationary link of the legrest actuating system will be to maintain the leg-rest 32 closer to a horizontal position. This may be more graphically appreciated by considering the compound action on the leg-rest mounting linkage 34- during the second movement phase. Specifically, the mounting link 38 turns in the counterclockwise direction about its pivotal mount 46 which turning movement is eftective to continue to somewhat elevate the leg-rest. However, the pivotal mount 44 simultaneously is translating upwardly and rearwardly in a direction such as to somewhat cancel the effective turning movement of the mounting link 38 thereby bringing about less elevation of the leg-rest 32. The final position of the leg-rest at the end of the second movement phase and in the fully reclined or tilted position shown in FIG. 3 may be adjusted by appropriate selection of the inclination of the respective guideways for the pivotal mounts or pins 4%], 46. In this connection it should be appreciated that an over elevation of the legrest 32 in relation to the seat 24 is not desirable in that it would bring the legs of the chair occupant to an awkward and uncomfortable position. A greater rearward inclination to the respective slots or guideways 44, 48 will bring about "less change in the relative position of the leg-rest 32 to the intermediate position of FIG. 2 and the final tilted back position of FIG. 3; and less rearward inclination of the respective slots will bring about a greater elevation of the leg-rest 32 during the second movement phase. By appropriate selection of slot configurations and the initial design of the leg-rest linkage 34, it is possible to establish optimum positions for the legrest 32 in relation to the body-supporting unit in both the intermediate tilted position shown in FIG. 2 and in the final tilted back position shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 to 6, there is shown a further embodiment of a two-position chair demonstrating features of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 110. The chair 11!) is capable of movement from the upright or sitting position shown in FIG. 4 to a semi-reclined or intermediate position with the leg-rest elevated, as shown in FIG. 5; and is further capable of movement from the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 5 into the fully redlined or completely tilted position with the leg-rest elevated, as shown in FIG. 6.

The chair includes a support 112 having opposite side walls 114, 116 interconnected by appropriate cross braces 118 and supported on depending legs 120. Pivotally or movably mounted on the support 112 is a body-supporting unit 122 which includes a unitary seat 124 and back-rest 126. The body-supporting unit 122 rests on the cross brace 118, serves as a stop in the sitting position and is provided with a mounting bracket 128 which has a main pivot 131 to the side walls 114, 116 of the chair support or frame 112 which mounts the body-supporting unit 122 for rearward turning or rocking movement from the upright or sitting position shown in FIG. 4 to the successive tilted positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. A

' Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 124- is a leg-rest 132 which is movable from the vertically extending stored position shown in FIG. 4 into first and second elevated leg-supporting positions, shown successively in FIGS. 5 and 6. A leg-rest linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 134, is operatively connected to the leg-rest 132 and mounts the same for movement from the stored position shown in FIG. 4 to the successive elevated leg-supporting positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The leg-rest linkage 134 in this illustrative embodiment includes first and second mounting links 136, 138 which extend substantially vertically in the sitting position of the chair, with the link 138 being spaced from and disposed forwardly of the link 136. At its upper end, the mounting link 136 has a pivot or pivotal mount 140 on a mounting plate 142 fixed to the adjacent side wall of the chair or the frame 112. Specifically, the pivotal mount 140 is guidingly engaged within an upwardly and rearwardly inclined slot 144 such that the pivotal mount 140 may be displaced or translated upwardly and rearwardly relative to the support. During the first movement phase the pivotal mount 1411 for the mounting link 136 is journaled at the lower end of the slot 144, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5; and during the second movement phase, the pivotal mount is displaced upwardly and rearwardly relative to the support along the slot 144. At its upper end, the mounting link 138 has a pivotal mount 146 on the seat 124 at a point spaced forwardly of the pivotal mount 140 on the support. During both the first and second movement phases, the pivotal mount 146 is translated or displaced upwardly and rearwardly relative to the support along with the seat. The leg-rest mounting linkage 134 is completed by a first connecting link 1511 which has a pivotal connection 152 at its lower end to the lower end of the mounting link 136, a second pivotal connection 154 at a point spaced above its lower end to the mounting link 138 and a third pivotal connection 156 at its upper end to the leg-rest; and a second connecting link 158 which has a pivotal connection 160 at its lower end to the lower end of the mounting link 138 and a pivotal connection 162 at its upper end to the leg-rest 132 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 156.

Actuating means are operatively connected to the legrest mounting linkage 134 and to the body-supporting unit 122 for moving the leg-rest 132 to an elevated leg-supporting position during the first movement phase for the chair. Specifically, the actuating means takes the form of an actuating link 164 which has a pivotal connection 166 at its upper end to the seat 124 and a pivotal connection 168 at its lower end to the mounting link 136 intermediate the ends thereof. Accordingly, in response to the rearward rocking or tilting movement of the bodysupporting unit 122 an upwardly directed thrust is imparted via the actuating link 164 to the leg-rest mounting linkage 134 which tends to turn the mounting links 136, 138 in the clockwise direction about their respective pivotal mounts 140, 146.

A sequencing means is operatively connected to the legrest mounting linkage 134 and is effective during the first movement phase to maintain the pivotal mount 140 stationary relative to the support such that the pivotal mount 140 is an eifective stationary pivot about which the mounting link 136 turns during the first movement phase. Further, the sequencing means is arranged such that during the second movement phase, the pivotal mount 140 for the mounting link 136 is permitted to displace or translate upwardly and rearwardly relative to the support such that the elevated leg-rest 132 may be further lifted with the body-supporting unit 122 which continues to tilt rearwardly about the main pivot 130. The sequencing means includes a pin and slot interconnection between the mounting link 136 of the leg-rest mounting linkage 134 and the support 112. Specifically, an elongated sequence plate 169 is fixed to the support 112 and is formed with first and second slot sections 170, 172 which extend from respective outer ends toward each other and merge at their adjacent ends. A pin 174 is carried by the mounting link 136 and is disposed, in the sitting position of the chair, at the lower or outer end of the arcuate slot section 170. In response to the actuation of the leg-rest and the turning of the leg-rest mounting linkage 134 in the clockwise direction about its relatively fixed pivotal mount 140 and its movable pivotal mount 146, the pin 174 translates along the arcuate slot section 170 toward the junction with the slot 172. The curvature of the slot section 170' is selected on a radius from the lower end of the slot or guideway 144 such that the sequencing means effectively maintains the pivotal mount 140 for the mounting link 136 at the lower end of the slot section 144. In the intermediate tilted position shown in FIG. 5, the pin 174 of the sequencing means arrives at the junction of the slot sections 170, 172 and will enter the linear slot section 172 in response to further actuation of the leg-restmounting linkage 134. During the second movement phase, the slot section 172 of the sequencing means permits the pivotal mount 140 to translate upwardly and rearwardly along the slot or guideway 144. The final reclined or ti'lted back position for the chair is established when the pin 174 of the sequencing means arrives at the upper or outer end of the straight slot section 172.

In order to facilitate a thorough understanding of this embodiment of the present invention, a typical sequence of operations will now be described:

When the chair occupant is seated in the body-supporting unit 122 and urges his weight rearwardly, the bodysupporting unit 122 tilts or rocks about the main pivot 130 and the leg-rest mounting or control linkage 134 is actuated by the actuating link 164. During the first movement phase, the pin 174 translates along the arcuate slot section 170 in a radius about the lower end of the slot 144 and thus positively maintains the pivotal mount 140 for the leg-rest mounting linkage 134 at the lower ends of the slot or guideway 144. The turning of the mounting link 136 about its relatively stationary pivotal mount 140 and the turning of the mounting link 138 about its movable pivotal mount 146 brings the leg-rest 132 to the elevated leg-supporting position as the chair moves to the intermediate tilted position shown in FIG. 5. At the end of the first movement phase, the positive constraint of the sequencing means on the pivotal mount 140 is effectively removed in that the pin 174 thereof is at the junction of the slot sections 170, 172 such that the continued acuation of the leg-rest mounting linkage 134 via the actuating link 164 will tend to lift or translate the pivotal mount 140 for the leg-rest mounting linkage 134 upwardly and rearwardly along the guideway 144, while the pivotal mount 1 46 continues to translate upwardly with the bodysupporting unit. Thus, the elevated leg-rest 132 will be displaced upwardly and rearwardly in the requisite orien tation to the body-supporting unit 122, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 5 and 6. During the second movement phase the spacing between the main pivot 130 for the body-supporting unit 122 and the pivotal mount 140 for the mounting link 136 is shortened and this effectively shortens the stationary link of a four-bar linkage which includes as the stationary link thereof the portion of the support intermediate the main pivot 130 and the pivotal mount 140 and as movable links thereof, the seat 124 intermediate the main pivot 130 and the pivotal connection 166, the actuating link 164, and the mounting link 136 intermediate the pivotal connection 168 and the pivotal mount 140. As before, the effect of decreasing the length of this stationary link of the leg-rest actuating system will be to maintain the leg-rest 132 closer to a horizontal position.

In both illustrative embodiments, the leg-rest arrives at an elevated and substantially horizontal leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat at the end of the first movement phase; and as a result of the combined lifting and turning of at least one mounting link of the leg-rest mounting linkage, the leg-rest is maintained substantially horizontal and is appropriately disposed in relation to the seat throughout the second movement phase. Thus, the leg-rest is optimally positioned througout the chair movement to afford maximum comfort to the chair occupant.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1'. A reclining chair comprising a support, a bodysupporting unit, means pivotally mounting said bodysupporting unit on said support at a main pivot for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted position to a final tilted position, a legrest, a leg-rest'linkage pivotally connected to said legrest, means operatively connected to and mounting said leg-rest linkage including two links each having a pivot on said support, means guidingly engaging each of said pivots and mounting same for displacement relative to. said support, actuating means pivotally connected to said. leg-rest linkage and to said body-supporting unit for moving said leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position during said first movement phase with said leg-rest linkage turning about said pivots, and sequence means operatively connected to one of said two links of said legrest linkage and to said support and effective during said first movement phase to maintain said pivots stationary relative to said support and effective during said second movement phase to permit turning and displacement of said pivots relative to said support such that said elevated leg-rest and body-supporting unit move relative to said support through said second movement phase.

2. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit, means pivotally mounting said body-supporting unit on said support at a main pivot for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted position to a final tilted position, a legrest, a leg-rest linkage pivotally connected to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to and mounting said leg-rest linkage including a first link having a first pivot on said support, and a second link having a second pivot on said body-supporting unit, means guidingly engaging said first pivot of said first link and mounting same for displacement relative to said support, actuating means pivotally connected to said leg-rest linkage and to said body-supporting unit for moving said leg-rest to an elevated legsupporting position during said first movement phase, and sequence means operatively connected to said first link of said leg-rest linkage and to said support and elfective during said first movement phase to maintain said first pivot stationary relative to said support and effective during said second movement phase to permit displacement of said first pivot relative to said support such that said elevated leg-rest and body-supporting unit move relative to said support through said second movement phase.

3. A reclining chair comprising a support, a bodysupporting unit, means pivotally mounting said body-supporting unit on said support at a main pivot for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted position to a final tilted position, a leg-rest, a leg-rest linkage pivotally connected to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to and mounting said leg-rest linkage including a first link having a first pivot on said support, and a second linkhaving a second pivot on said body-supporting unit, means guidingly engaging said first pivot of said first link and mounting same for displacement relative to said support, an actuating link pivotally connected to said first link and to said body-supporting unit for moving said leg-rest to an elevated legsupporting position during said first movement phase, and sequence means operatively connected to said first link of said leg-rest linkage and to said support and effective during said first movement phase to maintain said first pivot stationary relative to said support and effective during said second movement phase to permit displacement of said first pivot relative to said support such that said elevated leg-rest and body-supporting unit move relative to said support through said second movement phase.

4. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit, means movably mounting said body-supporting unit on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted position to a final tilted position, a leg-rest, a leg-rest linkage operatively connected to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to and mounting said leg-rest linkage including at least one pivot on said support, means guidingly engaging said one pivot and mounting same for displacement relative to said support, actuating means operatively connected to said linkage and controlled from said bodysupporting unit for moving said leg-rest to an elevated legsupporting position during said first movement phase, and sequence means operatively connected to said linkage and effective during said first movement phase to maintain said one pivot stationary relative to said support and effective during said second movement phase to permit displacement of said one pivot relative to said support such that said elevated leg-rest and body-supporting unit move relative to said support through said second movement phase, said sequence means including a pin and slot interconnection having first and second slot sections extending from respective outer ends toward each other and merging at adjacent ends, said pin being disposed at the outer end of said first slot section in said sitting position, at the adjacent ends of said slot sections in said tilted position, and at the outer end of said second slot section in said final tilted position.

5. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit, means movably mounting said body-supporting unit on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted position to a final tilted position, a leg-rest, a legrest linkage operatively connected to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to and mounting said leg-rest linkage including first and second links having first and second pivots on said support, respective means guidingly engaging said first and second pivots and mounting same for displacement relative to said support, actuating means operatively connected to one of said first and second links of said linkage and controlled from said body-supporting unit for moving said leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position during said first movement phase, and sequence means operatively connected to one of said first and second links of said linkage and effective during said first movement phase to maintain said first and second pivots stationary relative to said support and effective during said second movement phase to permit displacement of said first and second pivots relative to said support such that said elevated leg-rest and body-supporting unit move relative to said support through said second movement phase, said sequence means including a pin and slot interconnection having first and second slot sections extending from respective outer ends toward each other and merging at adjacent ends, said pin being disposed at the outer end of said first slot section in said sitting position, at the adjacent ends of said slot sections in said tilted position, and at the outer ends of said second slot section in said final tilted position.

6. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit, means movably mounting said body supporting unit on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted position to a final tilted position, a leg-rest, a leg-rest linkage operatively connected to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to and mounting said leg-rest linkage including a first pivot on said support, and a second pivot on said body-supporting unit, means guidingly engaging said first pivot and mounting same for displacement relative to said support, actuating means operatively connected to said linkage and controlled from said body-supporting unit for moving said leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position during said first movement phase, and sequence means operatively connected to said linkage and effective during said first movement phase to maintain said first pivot stationary relative to said support and effective during said second movement phase to permit displacement of said first pivot relative to said support such that said elevated leg-rest and body-supporting unit move relative to said support through said second movement phase, said sequence means including a pin and slot interconnection having first and second slot sections extending from respective outer ends toward each other and merging at adjacent ends, said pin being disposed at the outer end of said first slot section in said sitting position, at the adjacent ends of said slot sections in said tilted poistion, and at the outer end of said second slot section in said final tilted position.

7. A reclining chair comprising a support a body-supporting unit, means movably mounting said body-supporting unit on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted position to a final tilted position, a leg-rest, a leg-rest linkage operatively connected to said leg-rest, means operatively connected and mounting said leg-rest linkage including at least one pivot on said support, means guidingly engaging said one pivot and mounting same for displacement relative to said support, sequence means operatively connected to said linkage and effective during said first movement phase to maintain said one pivot stationary relative to said support such that said leg-rest linkage turns about said one pivot while stationary, and actu ating means operatively connected to said linkage and controlled from said body-supporting unit for turning said leg-rest linkage about said one pivot to move said leg-rest to an elevated and substantially horizontal leg-supporting position in relation to said body-supporting unit during said first movement phase, said sequencing means being effective during said second movement phase to permit displacement of said one pivot relative to said support such that said leg-rest linkage may be lifted relative to said support during said second movement phase, said actuating means being operative during said second movement phase to both turn and lift said leg-rest linkage such that the combined effect thereof is to maintain said leg-rest sub stantially horizontal and to move said leg-rest to a further leg-supporting position in relation to said body-supporting unit.

8. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit, means including a main pivot movably mounting said body-supporting unit on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an in termediate tilted position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted position to a final tilted position, a leg-rest, a leg-rest linkage operatively connected to said leg-rest, means operatively connected and mounting said leg-rest linkage including at least one pivot on said support, means providing a slot guidingly engaging said one pivot and mounting same for displacement relative to said support, sequence means operatively connected to said linkage and efiective during said first movement phase to maintain said one pivot stationary relative to said support such that said leg-rest linkage turns about said one pivot while stationary, and actuating means operatively connected to said linkage and controlled from said body-supporting unit for turning said leg-rest linkage about said one pivot to move said leg-rest to an elevated and substantially horizontal leg-supporting position in relation to said body-supporting unit during said first movement phase, said sequencing means being effective during said second movement phase to permit displacement of said one pivot relative to said support such that said leg-rest linkage may be lifted relative to said support during said second movement phase, said actuating means being operative during said second movement phase to both turn and lift said leg-rest linkage such that the combined effect thereof is to maintain said legrest substantially horizontal and to move said leg-rest to a further leg-supporting position in relation to said bodysupporting unit, said slot being inclined such that said one pivot moved toward said main pivot during said second movement phase such as to shorten the stationary link defined therebetween on said support.

1 1 9.. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supportingmeans, means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate tilted position to a final tilted position, a leg-rest, a legrest linkage pivotally connected to said leg-rest, means operatively connected to and mounting said leg-rest linkage including at least one link, pin and slot means between said support and said one link and mounting same for displacement relative to said support, actuating means pivotally connected to said leg-rest linkage and to said body-supporting means for moving said leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position during said first movement phase, and sequence means operatively connected to said leg-rest linkage and to said support and elfective during said first movement phase to maintain said one link against displacement relative to said support and eifective during said second movement phase to permit displacement of said one link relative to said support such that said elevated leg-rest and body-supporting means move relative to said support during said second movement phase.

10. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat, means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said support for a first movement phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted position. and for a second movement phase. from said intermediate tilted position to various reclining positions, a leg-rest and a leg-rest mounting linkage, means connecting said leg-rest to said leg-rest mounting linkage, to said support and to said seat, and sequencing-means. connected to said support and to said leg-rest mounting linkage for constraining said leg-rest mounting linkage to move along a first path during said first movement phase and for constraining said leg-rest mounting linkage to move along a second path during said second movement phase, said sequencing means including a pin and slot interconnection having first and second slot sections extending from respective outer ends toward each other and merging at adjacent ends, said pin being disposed at the outer end of said first slot section in said sitting position, at the adjacent ends of said slot sections in said tilted position, and at the outer end of said second slot section in said final tilted position, the configurationof said second slot section being selected to adjust the elevation of said leg-rest during said second movement phase.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,497 Luckhardt Oct. 28, 1952- 25 2,903,045 Viall Sept. 8, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 501,665 Canada Apr. 20, 1954 724,643 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1955 

